Abraham Shaw (1) the immigrant ancestor of Thomas Asa Shaw, of Worcester, came from Halifax, York County, England and settled in Dedham, MA, before 1636. In that year he signed the famous Dedham Covenant. In the old country he was a clothier and a man of some property. He was a planter at Dedham. When he first came to America he went to Watertown, MA, where he was a proprietor in 1636; his house was burned in October of that year, whereupon he seems to have removed to Dedham, where he was a constable in 1636-37-38, and was admitted a freeman March 9, 1637. He was owner of coal mines in Halifax and November 2, 1637, shortly before his death, he received a grant of half the coal and iron he might find in the common lands. He was given a permit to erect a coal mill February 12, 1637. He died in 1638, and his will, made November of that year, was proved before the end of the year. He mentions Joseph, John, Mary and Martha, his children, and Nicholas Byram, son-in-law. Of the children Joseph removed to Weymouth; Mary was born about 1638; Martha born about ---; Susanna married married Nicholas Byram before 1638.